Technically it isn't semi automatic...but at the same time it isnt fully automatic....

Does anybody have any literature about why or if this is restricted?

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Sorry...two or more bangs with 1 trigger pull is fully auto...restricted to Class III (NFA)

National Firearms Act ("NFA"
The Act defines a number of categories of regulated firearms. These weapons are collectively known as NFA firearms and include the following:Machine guns - this includes any firearm which can fire more than 1 cartridge per trigger pull. Both continuous fully-automatic fire and "burst fire" (i.e., firearms with a 3-round burst feature) are considered machine gun features. The weapon's receiver is by itself considered to be a regulated firearm. Courts have held that where a worn firearm malfunctions in such a way as to fire multiple cartridges one or more times, this makes it a machine gun.

Machine gun. Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

It is not the "nazi batfe" that considers it full auto, it is the NFA that defined full auto fire as two or more shots with single trigger pull. The BATFE simply enforces that law. They do make administrative policy decisions that have the effect of law, but that is not one of them.

While some would like to change that, consider that the M-16A2 is easily converted to A1 configuration with a few parts dropped in. The auto sear is the same in the two.

It is not the "nazi batfe" that considers it full auto, it is the NFA that defined full auto fire as two or more shots with single trigger pull.

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VERY GOOD POINT. As much as we may hate the BATFE for enforcing asinine policy, that is simply their job. They aren't making the laws, just enforcing them. I wanted to mention this a few times myself. The people WE elect are the one's proposing these laws and/or signing off on them. I often speak in terms of "the ATF says" or "ATF forms are a joke" too. I'm sure a lot of people make these statements like I do.

LU- it is not a gray area. One shot per pull of 1 trigger. If you had a double barrel shotgun that was designed to fire BOTH barrels with one pull of one trigger, you are outside the law. If you took a double barrel shotgun, and installed a block, so that pulling one trigger pulled the other trigger at the same time, outside the law. A weapon designed to "burst fire" IS a full auto as defined in the NFA. However, a hand cranked Gatling Gun is not. Add an electric motor controlled by a switch, it is. A Model 97 pump shotgun can have the trigger held down, as as you pump it, it fires- but THAT requires manual reloading (pumping). This is the definition of machinegun from the actual NFA:

The term “machinegun” means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

BTW- just for the sake of argument, it is one shot, not one bullet. There ARE cartridges that have more than one projectile per cartridge.

Don't understand why? I provided an excerpt from the NFA that mentions burst fire explicitely within the definition of "machine gun." You don't have to agree with it but it is the law of the land at the present.

okay bad analogy with the shotgun. and I understand the definitions and current rules...But still not sold on the burst fire deal.

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Whether you're sold on burst fire being full auto (which I think Jplye and C3 have done a pretty good job of pointing out the facts), the Federal Government is sold on the definition. More than one shot with a single trigger pull and you have manufactured a machine gun, end of debate.

And I think it is stupid to call adding a shoulder stock to a revolver "Making a short barreled rifle".

If you expect all laws to make sense, you will have many diasappointments in life.

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That is one GREAT example of a dumb law.
A pistol is a pistol. It's still a Semi Auto or a revolver or single shot, the function and capacity is still the same, but you add a shoulder stock and make it bigger and its now a regulated SBR.
i guess its too hard to define the differences